Health and Safety rules can make small firms sick, says FSB

Speaking at a conference organised by the Metropolitan Police “In Sickness and in Work” the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) highlighted how heavy-handed Health and Safety legislation is holding back the UK economy.

The FSB’s Health and Safety Chairman, Mary Boughton, addressed the conference on a variety of related issues.  However, the main message from small businesses is that Health and Safety legislation is a huge burden on small firms and is often disproportionate to the problem to be resolved by the laws.

The average small business owner spends 28 hours a month filling in forms, time they could much better spend growing the business to create more local jobs.

David Dexter, FSB Lincolnshire Region Chairman, said: “Small businesses can provide a much better work/life balance for owners and staff.  A small firm is more flexible in its approach to work hours and the employee can meet the boss much more easily to discuss time off.  It also positively contributes to the local community.”

“But the massive burden of Health and Safety legislation seems over the top to small businesses.  Most small firms are good at looking after their employees and do not need the added hours that red tape from government means for them.”

“We need simpler procedures for reporting compliance and, in some cases, exemptions for the smallest businesses.  Small firms employ thirteen million people in the UK.  To maintain and grow this level of employment we need a lighter regulatory touch.  The UK economy depends on small firms so it is in the Government’s interests to listen to our members.”